Bibbyman

Hi guys! I’m new here so go easy on me.

Old story often told. I have a ’77 Corvette I bought back in about ’88 and drove quite a bit. But it’s been setting in the shed for about 10 years now. I got it up and running but it has brake problems. A couple of calipers have at least one leaking seal and the master cylinder and booster appear to be shot.

I’m a veteran at brake problems so I know how to fix these problems – just spend money. Back years ago I went through trying to rebuild the brakes myself and ended up buying a new set of SST lined calipers.

Before I go through that again, I have a question:

Does anyone make a replacement bolt-on single piston caliper for the ’77 Corvette?

I know.. I’m probably talking heresy here but I’ll never need 4 piston/caliper breaking on this old dowg Corvette. I just want to get the thing on the road again and take my granddaughter for a ride in it.

Thanks for letting me hang out.

Ganey

There is something new you need to know about that installs easily.
VBP has O-Ring Piston conversion rebuild kits.
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...onv-Kit-1.html
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...onv-kit-1.html

I like the fast pad changes possible on C3 brakes.

71scgc

I'm a big believer in making it stop before making it run. Don't go cheapo on brakes.

Bibbyman

Thanks!

But what’s new and different about this rebuild kit?

I rebuilt the original calipers a couple of times before I gave up and bought new(remanufactured?) caliper assemblies with SST lining.

Ganey

You were correct to change to SS sleeve calipers. The newer O-Ring Pistons go right in easily so rebuild is fast. As you know the lip seal pistons needed careful installs. O-Ring Pistons are much less likely to leak.

carriljc

What does the comment below mean? Can I use these in my stock calipers or not?

"Corvette O-Ring Caliper Rebuild Kits. Include: O-ring seals, Dust covers and half-seals.Note: These O-Ring rebuild kits only fit VBP's Pistons."


http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...onv-Kit-1.html


You'd think that with all the cars out there with Disc Brakes nowadays we could find some lightweight aluminum built caliper to replace our originals, eh?

Ganey

Yes. That simply means that the O-Ring Pistons are needed, which are in the links.
You may have copied that from another that just showed 0-Rings & seals, therefore the note above.

Mike Ward

Both of these would be a step backwards in technology and would involve spending lots of cash 'fixing' a system that has proven to be very durable and cost effective- with a bit of knowledge and effort.

C2/C3 brakes were decades ahead of their time.

Easy Mike

No.

Bibbyman

Thanks for the help guys.

They may have been decades ahead of their time but that was many, many decades ago!

The first years I had my Corvette I spent working on the brakes. What I learned was that it’s a common problem with this vintage Corvette. Seems a whole cottage industry has developed just to support the need to fix or replace these brakes. Why, I bet the Corvette brake replacement industry account’s for at least 1% of the GNP. I hear a town in China of 200,000 population works at a factory making them. Well, maybe not that big - I’m known to exaggerate.

Another question.

If I have two calipers that are leaking and two that are apparently not, would it be wise to just fix the ones that are leaking and not try messing with the ones that are not? You know the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”.

PeteZO6

Well, you know, these brakes are not the easiest to bleed. Just do a search and you'll learn about that. So if you just replace 2 calipers, you're just going to be waiting for the others to fail and then you get to bleed them again.

I agree with what Mike Ward said, and add that these brakes are still more than up to the job on the street as long as they are maintained like the General intended for them to be. Keep them in perfect repair and they will stop you reliably.

Ganey

Fix it before works for me, called preventative maintenance.

7t9l82

first. it is brakes not breaks. second the o ring conversion is cheaper and faster than anything else you will find.third i would not gamble on some home crafted "brake" system to protect my family members

carriljc

I'll probably order this kit. Since it looks like the hot ticket.

But meanwhilw, since I can't leave things alone, I'm going to have to take a look at what's out there as far as other options. I modify things all the time. It'll fun anyway to see if I can make some other caliper fit. I also think, that with all the decades that have gone by, that there'd be something out there that could be better.

Mike Ward

There's an ongoing post on the C2 side about a guy 'upgrading' his brakes. First thing he measured was the stock stopping distance, it was within 10 feet of a C6 Z06. Good luck beating that.

joewill

on a side note... do I have to have existing stainless steel lined piston bores in my calipers in order to use the o-ring kit?

I have no idea if I do or not... I have one caliper letting in air and have to bleed about every 300 miles ( about twice a year ) and thought I would try the o-ring kit...

Bibbyman

Thanks for helping me with my spelling. I’ve never been none too good at it. Some words I misspell so often I get confused as to what looks right.

I guess that’s the end of any slack a new guy gets.

I’d like to be able to have someone come in with a slide-back and take the Corvette to someone who knows what they’re doing and have it completely restored. Then again, if I had that kind of money I’d just buy a better Corvette.

7t9l82

WELCOME. NEW GUY! just wanted you to feel at home.

Bibbyman

Thanks. I appreciate that.

Note I did manage to get an avatar loaded. The picture was taken about 20 years ago when my hair was mostly red!

I don’t look so much like a “Junior Member” now.

I’ve got to do a lot more pokin’ around this forum to figure out how some other things work.

7t9l82

oh no I'm a red head too. what part of the planet are you from? I'm in Florida but originally I'm from northern Virginia.